Swallow
Swallow the capsule with water during a supervised office visit. A thin catheter remains attached.
Home / Allurion Balloon
Weight Success Centers · Tampa, Florida
Allurion® Smart Capsule
Weight Loss Program
in Tampa, Florida
A swallowable gastric balloon.
A physician-managed plan for what comes next.
Temporary support for smaller portions, paired with nutrition, muscle preservation and long-term care under Dr. Wilfred Aguila.
No surgery, routine anesthesia or routine endoscopy for standard placement. Eligibility requires a medical consultation.
A temporary balloon.
A plan built around you.
A plan built around you.
SwallowableCapsule placement
~16 weeksDesigned balloon duration
Physician-ledIndividualized follow-up
Beyond the balloonMaintenance from the start
What is the Allurion Smart Capsule?
Support for smaller portions.
Room for healthier habits.
The Smart Capsule contains a soft balloon that is swallowed and then filled with fluid inside the stomach. By occupying space, it may help you feel satisfied sooner and eat smaller portions.
It offers a non-surgical option for adults who have struggled with weight loss, including people who do not want to rely exclusively on long-term injectable medication.
After about four months, it is designed to empty and pass through the digestive system naturally. Routine removal is not expected, although medical intervention may occasionally be necessary.
From placement to maintenance
How Allurion works.
Confirm & fill
Imaging confirms the capsule is in the stomach. The team fills the balloon with fluid through the catheter and checks placement.
Start your plan
The catheter is removed. Go home with personalized instructions for hydration, diet progression, medication and activity.
Transition & maintain
After approximately 16 weeks, the balloon is designed to empty and pass naturally. Your maintenance plan continues beyond this phase.
The exact schedule and recovery plan depend on your clinical assessment. The balloon’s actual residence time varies.
Allurion promotional imagery. Individual experiences and results vary.
A different way to move forward
Temporary support.
Long-term thinking.
This program may appeal to adults who want a non-surgical approach, prefer to avoid routine anesthesia, or need a structured period to build more consistent eating habits.
- Help feeling satisfied with smaller portions.
- A time-limited balloon rather than a permanent implant.
- Personal medical supervision and regular follow-up.
- Support for nutritional, behavioral, emotional and metabolic factors affecting weight.
- A plan that can consider other therapies when appropriate.
The balloon offers physical support. Your daily habits and ongoing care help you make use of that opportunity.
Discuss your goalsThe Weight Success Centers difference
The balloon is a tool.
Your program is the strategy.
Care is tailored to your medical history, metabolism, lifestyle, preferences and goals. The objective is to support fat loss, strength, energy and sustainable weight management—not simply a lower number on the scale.
Comprehensive medical assessment
Your history, prior weight-loss attempts, medications, eating patterns, sleep, stress, energy, activity, hormonal symptoms and weight-related risks help shape the plan.
Personalized nutrition
A nutrition strategy that fits your preferences, lifestyle, metabolic needs and treatment stage—with attention to satiety, protein and micronutrients.
Muscle preservation
Protein targets, resistance exercise, body-composition monitoring and appropriate nutritional support help protect lean mass and physical function.
Behavioral and lifestyle support
Work on portion awareness, cravings, emotional eating, meal structure, sleep, stress and daily movement while the balloon provides temporary support.
Ongoing accountability
Regular follow-up lets the team review your progress, address challenges early and adjust care as your needs change.
Digital tools and education
Tracking tools, educational resources, recipes, exercise guidance and structured Success Builder™ content may support your progress between visits.
Medication when appropriate
Medication is not automatic. Dr. Aguila considers your response, tolerance, appetite, cravings and long-term needs before recommending it.
Transition and maintenance
Plan for life after the balloon with continued nutrition, exercise and behavioral support. Medication, hormone evaluation or supplementation may be considered individually.
Understanding what affects your weight
We consider persistent hunger, food cravings, stress-related eating, sleep, low energy, insulin resistance, hormonal changes, muscle loss, sedentary habits, nutritional deficiencies, previous regain and difficulty maintaining motivation. Your care should address the factors that matter for you.
Allurion Virtual Care Suite
Stay connected.
See your progress.
The Weight Success Allurion Program includes a connected scale and access to the Allurion app to help you track progress, connect with the team and stay engaged between visits.
Monitoring weight, BMI and body-composition trends helps move the conversation beyond a single number. Your medical team interprets those trends alongside your overall health and treatment response.
Digital tracking supports your follow-up appointments and the day-to-day work of building healthier habits.
More than weight loss
Protect your strength.
Support your metabolism.
Rapid weight loss can include lean muscle loss. At Weight Success Centers, body composition is part of the conversation from the beginning.
- Prioritize fat loss and adequate protein.
- Build strength safely with appropriate resistance activity.
- Maintain hydration and nutrition.
- Support energy, physical function and metabolic health.
- Develop routines that reduce a return to old patterns.
Is Allurion right for you?
A personal decision.
A medical evaluation.
U.S. eligibility criteria include adults ages 22–65 with a BMI of 30–40 kg/m² who have had at least one unsuccessful attempt at a weight-loss program.
You must be medically suitable and willing to participate in a supervised nutrition and lifestyle program. The balloon is a temporary aid, not a permanent cure.
Gastrointestinal conditions, previous stomach or esophageal surgery, pregnancy, swallowing disorders, medications and other health factors can affect eligibility.
Schedule an eligibility consultationKnow your options
Allurion and GLP-1 medication.
Both can be useful tools. They work differently, and neither is automatically the best choice for every patient.
| Consideration | Allurion Smart Capsule | GLP-1 / GLP-1–GIP therapy |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Occupies space in the stomach to support earlier fullness and smaller portions. | Acts through appetite, satiety and metabolic signaling. |
| Treatment format | A swallowable balloon placed during a supervised visit; no weekly injections for the balloon itself. | Prescription medication taken on an ongoing schedule; formulation depends on the medicine. |
| Duration | Temporary balloon support, designed for approximately four months. | May continue longer term when medically indicated. |
| Risks & follow-up | Gastrointestinal symptoms and balloon-related complications require monitoring. | Gastrointestinal and other medication-related side effects require monitoring. |
| Long-term care | Nutrition, activity, behavior and maintenance remain essential after passage. | Nutrition, activity and an individualized continuation or transition plan remain important. |
For selected patients, Dr. Aguila may consider a staged or combined strategy. Others may be better suited to medication alone, nutrition-based treatment, a different procedure or another level of obesity care.
How does it differ from traditional balloons?
Traditional balloons such as Orbera® and Spatz3® generally require endoscopic placement and removal. Allurion is designed for swallowable placement and natural passage. These differences do not eliminate risk or make one treatment right for everyone.
After placement
The first days are
an adjustment.
As your stomach adapts, you may experience nausea, vomiting, cramping, abdominal discomfort, bloating, reflux, reduced appetite or difficulty tolerating some foods and fluids.
You will receive specific guidance on hydration, diet progression, prescribed medication, activity and symptoms that need medical attention. Many expected symptoms improve as the stomach adjusts.
Stay in contact with your team
Gastric balloons can cause serious complications. Contact the medical team promptly for severe, persistent or unusual symptoms. Some complications may require medication, endoscopy, hospitalization or surgery.
After the balloon passes
Your care
continues.
Maintenance planning begins before the balloon is gone. The goal is more consistent meals, better portion awareness, improved food choices, manageable hunger and cravings, sustainable movement and stronger accountability.
We review your progress and discuss ongoing nutrition visits, coaching, body-composition monitoring and exercise progression. Medication, hormone evaluation and targeted supplementation may be considered when appropriate.
Weight regain remains possible. Continuing the habits and follow-up established during treatment is central to protecting progress.
Meet your physician
Dr. Wilfred Aguila,
M.D., FACS
A board-certified surgeon with decades of experience in surgical and medical weight management, Dr. Aguila has treated thousands of people living with obesity and weight-related conditions.
He also understands the patient experience personally: he lost more than 70 pounds and has maintained that loss for over 20 years.
His approach brings together bariatric medicine, nutrition, behavioral support, exercise, hormone evaluation and body-composition management. Each recommendation begins with an individual assessment.
Compassion without judgment.
You deserve answers, structure and care that recognizes the biological, psychological, behavioral and environmental factors behind weight management.
Meet Dr. AguilaAnswers before your consultation
Allurion Balloon FAQs.
Is Allurion bariatric surgery?
No. Allurion is a temporary intragastric balloon inside a swallowable capsule. Standard placement does not require incisions, surgery, routine endoscopy or routine anesthesia.
Is the balloon FDA approved?
Yes. The Allurion Gastric Balloon System is FDA approved for short-term, limited weight loss in adults ages 22–65 with BMI 30–40 who have had at least one unsuccessful weight-loss attempt. It must be used with a supervised lifestyle program.
How long does the balloon stay in my stomach?
It is designed for approximately 16 weeks. Residence time varies; the average observed residence time in U.S. labeling is 15.3 weeks.
Does it have to be removed?
The balloon is designed to empty and pass naturally, without routine endoscopic removal. In uncommon circumstances, medical, endoscopic or surgical intervention may be necessary.
Will I be asleep during placement?
Routine anesthesia is generally not required. You are awake and medically supervised. Your individual circumstances are reviewed before treatment.
What if I cannot swallow the capsule?
Tell your care team about any swallowing difficulties before treatment. Your physician will determine whether Allurion or a different treatment is appropriate.
How much weight will I lose?
Results vary substantially with starting weight, health, eating patterns, activity, adherence and follow-up. Weight Success Centers does not guarantee a specific amount or duration of weight loss.
Can I take weight-loss medication with the balloon?
For selected patients, Dr. Aguila may recommend medication before, during or after balloon therapy. This requires an individualized review of benefits, risks, symptoms and long-term goals.
Can the weight return afterward?
Yes. Weight regain is possible after any weight-loss treatment. Nutrition education, muscle preservation, behavioral changes, follow-up and maintenance planning remain important after the balloon passes.
Can I receive another balloon?
Repeat treatment may be considered after confirming the previous balloon has passed and reviewing your medical suitability. U.S. labeling describes up to two balloons placed during a 10-month period.
Is treatment covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your insurer and policy. Gastric balloon treatment may be considered elective or excluded. Ask the team about self-pay costs and available financing before scheduling treatment.
How do I know if this is right for me?
Start with a comprehensive consultation. Dr. Aguila reviews your goals, BMI, gastrointestinal health, medications, prior treatments and preferences to recommend an appropriate option.
Your next chapter can begin today
Love Your Scale Again.
With Weight Success Centers.
If previous diets or treatments have not led to lasting progress, a more comprehensive plan may help. Explore whether Allurion belongs in your personalized care program.
8561 W. Linebaugh Avenue · Tampa, Florida 33625
Important treatment information
Allurion is intended for short-term, limited weight loss in appropriately selected adults and must be used with a supervised weight-management program. It is not appropriate for every patient. Eligibility, risks, side effects and outcomes require individual medical evaluation. Weight Success Centers does not guarantee a specific amount or duration of weight loss. This information is educational and does not replace personalized medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Allurion U.S. product information and instructions for use ↗